US-China Trade Confrontation

Published in Kyoto Shimbun
(Japan) on 20 September 2018
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Deborah Chapin. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
This is an unproductive dispute that will benefit no one. They should quickly reach a compromise.

In order to reduce the large trade deficit regarding China, on Sept. 24, the Trump administration will be invoking tariffs equivalent to $200 million on Chinese products. Throughout July and August of this year, the U.S. imposed additional tariffs of 25 percent on products, equivalent to $50 billion. This is the third round of tariffs, which are 10 percent at the moment, but will rise to 25 percent next year.

China also announced that it would impose retaliatory tariffs of 5 or 10 percent, equaling about $60 billion, on products imported from the U.S. It is also considering restricting exports to the U.S. of materials and parts important to the U.S. industry. It is highly likely that this exchange of sanctions and retribution will deal a serious blow to the world’s economy. The impact will also be heavy on Japanese industries that make products in China and export to the United States. We need to pay close attention.

Additional tariffs were imposed on roughly half of imports from China to the U.S. The target of the sanctions was largely home appliances and everyday products. Because of this, domestic prices will rise and consumers will suffer. This could affect even the prosperous U.S. economy, but the Trump administration is preparing for the fourth round, which would be aimed at all products from China.

It is clear that the U.S. wishes to appear as if it is curbing China’s power, in order to appeal to supporters for the midterm elections in November. In the U.S., it seems that opposition to China, which infringes upon the intellectual property rights of digital technology, surpasses partisanship and has a strong influence.

However, the methods of the United States are unreasonable. The trade deficit with China is the consequence of the U.S. leading the way in globalization and trade liberalization in the ‘90s. The trade problem should not be dealt with by unilateral sanctions, but by utilizing the mediation of the World Trade Organization. China should also stop feigning ignorance of the intellectual property issue.

In China, the effect of low stocks and cheap currency is appearing. If China’s economy retreats drastically, then exports from the U.S. to China will decrease and it will also affect the U.S. economy. It is doubtful whether or not a cabinet-level meeting will be held concerning trade between the two countries, but it is time now for them to meet with each other.

The U.S. is requesting measures from Japan and Europe to reduce the trade deficit. In upcoming trade discussions between Japan and the U.S., it is possible that greater market access for agricultural goods will be encouraged. Although cooperation with the U.S. is the basis of diplomacy for the Japanese government, I would like this problem to be negotiated on the basis of free trade principles.



誰の利益にもならない不毛な争いである。早急に歩み寄ってほしい。
 巨額の対中貿易赤字の解消を掲げる米国のトランプ政権が、2千億ドル(約22兆円)相当の中国製品に対する制裁関税を今月24日から発動する。
 米国は今年7月と8月の2回にわたって計500億ドル相当の製品に25%の追加関税を課している。第3弾の今回は税率を当初10%にするが、来年には25%に引き上げる。
 中国も約600億ドル(約6兆7千億円)相当の米国からの輸入品に対し5%か10%の報復関税を課すと表明した。米国の産業にとって重要な材料や部品の対米輸出制限も検討している。
 制裁と報復の応酬は、世界経済に深刻な打撃を与える可能性が高い。中国で製品を作り米国に輸出している日本企業にとっても影響は大きくなろう。注視する必要がある。
 中国から米国への輸入品のほぼ半分に追加関税が課される。今回の制裁対象の多くは家電などの生活関連品で、米国内の物価に跳ね返り、消費者には痛手になる。
 好調な米国経済にも影響しかねないが、トランプ政権は中国からの全ての輸入品が対象になる第4弾の制裁も用意している。
 11月の中間選挙に向け、中国を力でねじ伏せる姿を支持者にアピールしたいのは明らかだ。米国内には、デジタル技術などの知的財産権を侵害しているという中国への反発が党派を超えて強いことも影響しているようだ。
 とはいえ、米国の措置は理不尽だ。対中貿易赤字は、米国が1990年代からグローバル化と貿易自由化を先導してきた帰結である。貿易の問題は一方的な制裁ではなく、世界貿易機関(WTO)などの調停機能を活用すべきだ。中国も知財問題で「知らぬ存ぜぬ」を決め込むのはやめるべきだ。
 中国では株安や通貨安などの影響が出ている。中国経済が大幅に後退すれば米国から中国への輸出も縮小し、米国経済にも悪影響を与える。
 両国の貿易に関する閣僚級協議は開催が危ぶまれているが、今こそ互いに向き合ってもらいたい。
 米国は日本や欧州にも貿易赤字削減策を要求している。近く開かれる日米貿易協議では、農産品の一層の市場開放を突きつけてくる可能性がある。日本政府にとって対米協調は外交の基本とはいえ、この問題では自由貿易の原則を踏まえて交渉をしてほしい。
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